Farmers take out victory march at Delhi borders ahead of returning home

New Delhi: The over an year-long protests of farmers against the Centre's agri laws came to an end on Saturday, with the home-bound agitators set to leave the protest sites.

Farmers at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur borders took out victory marches as they began their homeward journeys.

Farmers were seen dismantling their tents, cleaning the area, and bidding emotional farewells as they prepared to leave.

At Ghazipur border, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said the process would take a couple of days more, and he himself would return on December 15.After the farmers leave, barricades will be removed and roads will be cleared for traffic.

The farmer groups under the banner of Samyukt Kisan Morcha called off the agitation on December 8, after the Narendra Modi government announced a committee on the Minimum Support Price issue, comprising government officials, agriculture experts and representatives from the SKM.

The government also agreed to drop charges against all farmers that were filed during the course of the agitation, including stubble burning complaints.

On compensation for the farmers who died during the year-long agitation, the union government said the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments have given in-principle approval for the demand, while Punjab has already announced it.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said the matter of compensation is a state concern.

Farmers' protests against the three Farm Laws started in Punjab soon after Parliament passed the bill in September 2020.

Farmers gave a call for 'Dilli Chalo' (Delhi march) on November 26, 2020, and reached the national capital borders despite several attempts made to stop them along the way.
They sat on a "dharna" on Delhi borders as they were not allowed to enter the city.

The sit-in went on for over a year, with numbers swelling, and the roads on these borders protest sites converting into mini villages.

The three farm laws were repealed by Parliament on November 29, the first day of Winter Session, after Prime Minister Modi in a sudden announcement on November 19 agreed to roll back the legislation.(UNI)